“Observing a Holy Lent: Perceptive Sacrifices”
April 3, 2022 Pastor: Pastor John King
Scripture: John 12:1–8
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Sermon Notes
I. Observing a Holy Lent: A Perceptive Sacrifice John 12:1-8
A. A dinner party.
1. Hosted by Simon the leper of Bethany (Mk. 14:3, Mt. 26:6).
2. Honored guest – Jesus.
3. Celebrity guest – Lazarus.
4. Head server – Martha.
B. An awkward moment.
1. Mary anoints Jesus with expensive ointment (perfume). In this account, she anoints his feet, wiping them with her hair (v. 3). In Matthew (26:6ff.) and Mark (14:3ff), she anoints his head.
2. The amount of perfume was a Roman pound (about 12 ounces) and was worth the annual wage of a laborer.
a. The other gospels make it clear that many began whispering and making critical remarks, including the disciples. John identifies Judas Iscariot (and takes the opportunity to reveal Judas’ betrayal and ongoing deceit) as one who spoke up and made a condemning remark, saying that the perfume could have been better used to serve the poor.
C. The honored guest speaks: A discerning prophetic word.
1. Everyone is expecting Jesus to confirm their critical thoughts. It seems so obvious. Everyone gets it except Mary.
2. But this is the Jesus who has turned the world upside-down, the Jesus of the Sermon on the Mount, the one who continually surprises and confuses them.
3. It turns out that Mary was way ahead of the crowd. She has discerned that Jesus, as he has continually declared, is about to die. Her perceptive sacrifice is an anointing for his death and burial.
a. The others have failed to either acknowledge or understand what Jesus has clearly taught and what the circumstances clearly indicate.
b. Not Mary. Her sacrifice, which is an indication that she believes what Jesus has taught them and is faithful to act upon that, is both discerning and enabling in setting the context for Jesus to, again, prophesy his imminent death.
D. Questions for thought.
1. Have there been times in your walk with Christ when you have been critical of another believer’s action, only to discover that they were on the mark and you were slow to recognize it?
2. What hard truths of kingdom life do you struggle to discern? To acknowledge? To obey?